Method of preparing enantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-alkyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl) isoxazoles

ABSTRACT

A novel process for preparing enantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-(C 1  -C 3  -alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole in high yield, wherein a protected 2-oxo-pyrrolidine starting material is reacted with a suitable organic anion and a resulting beta-keto oxime intermediate is cyclized and dehydrated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/475,717filed Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,912 which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/234,442 filed Apr. 28,1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,444 which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/117,819, filed Sep. 8, 1993, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a process for preparing pyrrolidinylisoxazoles, particularly to a method of preparing 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, more particularly3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, that affords a highyield of enantiomerically-pure product. These compounds andpharmaceutical compositions thereof are cholinergic ligands, selectivefor neuronal nicotinic receptors, that are useful in treating variouscognitive, neurological and mental disorders, such as dementias andanxiety, which are characterized by decreased cholinergic function, orin treating or preventing withdrawal symptoms caused by the cessation ofchronic or long term use of tobacco products, as well as amelioratingthe symptoms of anxiety and frustration associated with withdrawal ofother addictive substances such as, for example, cocaine, diazepam oralcohol, and in treating alcohol intoxication and petit mal absenceepilepsy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The central nervous system disorders that may be treated by novelisoxazole compounds, particularly3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, have been described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/118,079, filed Sep. 8, 1993, whichis incorporated herein by reference. That Application teaches that a2-oxopyrrolidine carboxylic acid ester (compound 21 of Scheme IVtherein) may be condensed with a dianion of acetone oxime only when thepyrrolidine ring nitrogen substituent (R⁵ therein) is a C₁ -C₄ -alkylgroup, and not when it is hydrogen. Further, said Application teaches(Example 22c) that the condensation reaction generates a racemicproduct. Also, the reported cyclization of a beta-keto oxime, whereinthe oxime group is a functional group on a fused ring system and theproduct contains a fused oxazolidine ring (British Patent No. 1,354,097and published German Application DE2166685) cannot be said to teach orsuggest that cyclization with non-fused ring starting materials ispossible or would result in an enantiomerically-pure product.

It has now been found that an enantiomerically-pure product may beobtained in a process wherein an alkyl ester of N-alkyl-L-proline,particularly N-methyl-L-proline, is converted into a compound having aketo-oxime grouping in an extended side-chain, which is then cyclizedand dehydrated, and in an alternate process wherein an alkyl ester ofL-pyroglutamic acid is converted into a compound having a keto-oximegrouping in an extended side-chain, which is cyclized and dehydrated,then N-alkylated, and more specifically N-methylated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a novel, high yield process for preparingenantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, particularly enantiomerically-pure3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, according to which asuitably-protected pyrrolidine or 2-oxopyrrolidine, is converted into acompound having a keto-oxime grouping, and a resulting beta-keto oximeintermediate (1-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-5-oxo-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime or 1-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime or the cyclic ketalof the latter, 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)-5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-isoxazole) is cyclizedinto an isoxazole product by dehydration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel process for preparing in high yieldthe enantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole of formula (1), ##STR1## (1), whereinAlk is C₁ -C₃ -alkyl, comprising: (a) treating an N-Alk-L-proline estercompound of formula (2), ##STR2## (2), wherein Alk is C₁ -C₃ -alkyl withsuitable reagents, including, but not limited to, an excess of a salt ofa dianion of acetone oxime; an anion of acetonitrile followed by amethyl Grignard reagent and subsequent reaction of the intermediate withhydroxylamine; or an anion of an imine of acetone with subsequentreaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine;

with or without isolating the novel reaction product of formula (3),##STR3## (3); then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (a), thecompound of formula (3), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, asdefined below, in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. toreflux temperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desiredproduct, in high chiral purity.

It should be understood that the compound of formula (3) may furtherautocyclize to form an novel intermediate compound of formula (4):##STR4## (4), which may then undergo dehydration in the presence of acyclizing and dehydrating reagent to give the final product of formula(1); and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatcompounds (3) and (4) may be in equilibrium with each other, in solutionor in crude isolates of (3), and that the actual position of equilibriumis not important in the process of the invention.

The starting material of formula (2) may be prepared by standard methodsknown to those skilled in the art, by first forming the appropriatealkyl ester of L-proline, then N-alkylating the ester compound.Alternately, of course, it is possible to prepare the starting materialof formula (2) by alkylation of L-proline to give the N-alkyl-L-proline,and then preparing the appropriate alkyl ester thereof.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the Alk group inCompound (2) may be replaced with an R group, which is a protectinggroup, such as benzyloxycarbonyl, tert-butyloxycarbonyl,methoxycarbonyl, or formyl, for example. Such a starting material may becarried through steps (a) and (b) of the process described above, togive a compound similar to that of formula (1), wherein the Alk isreplaced with R. Subsequently, the protecting group may be removed andthe Alk group added to give the desired compound of formula (1). Such anextension of the process is to be considered within the scope of thepresent invention.

One embodiment of the process for preparing compound (1), comprises:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is C₁ -C₃ -alkyl,with an excess of a salt of the dianion of acetone oxime in a solutionof THF, at a temperature of from -10° C. to ambient, vigorously mixingof the reagents, and optionally isolating the novel compound of formula(3), ##STR5## (3); then (b) reacting the compound of formula (3) withsulfuric acid as the cyclizing and dehydrating reagent in a suitablesolvent, at a temperature from 0° C. to reflux temperature for from3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product, in high chiral purity.

A preferred embodiment is the process for preparing the compound offormula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is methyl, with anexcess of the mixed Na/Li salt of the dianion of acetone oxime in asolution of THF:hexane, at a temperature of from -10° C. to ambient,with simultaneous addition and vigorous mixing of the reagents, withoutisolating the reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR6## (3a); then (b)reacting the reaction product of formula (3a) with the cyclizing anddehydrating reagent sulfuric acid in a THF/H₂ O mixture, at atemperature from 0° C. to reflux temperature for from 3-to-48 hours, andisolating the desired product, in high chiral purity.

A more preferred embodiment is the process for preparing the compound offormula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), Wherein Alk and R¹ are methyl,with an excess of the mixed Na/Li salt of the dianion of acetone oximein a solution of THF:hexane, at a temperature of from -10° C. toambient, with simultaneous addition and vigorous mixing of the reagents,without isolating the reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR7## (3a);then (b) reacting the reaction product of formula (3a) with thecyclizing and dehydrating reagent sulfuric acid in a THF/H₂ O mixture,at a temperature from 0° C. to reflux temperature for from 3-to-48hours, and isolating the desired product,3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in high chiral purity.

Another embodiment of the process for preparing compound (1), comprises:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is C₁ -C₃ -alkyl,with an anion of acetonitrile followed by a methyl Grignard reagent andsubsequent reaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with orwithout isolating the novel reaction product of formula (3), ##STR8##(3); then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (a), the compound offormula (3), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as defined below,in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to refluxtemperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product,in high chiral purity.

Another preferred embodiment is the process for preparing the compoundof formula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising;

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is methyl, with ananion of acetonitrile followed by a methyl Grignard reagent andsubsequent reaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with orwithout isolating the novel reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR9##(3a); then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (a), the compoundof formula (3a), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as definedbelow, in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to refluxtemperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product,in high chiral purity.

Another more preferred embodiment is the process for preparing thecompound of formula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk and R¹ are methyl,with an anion of acetonitrile followed by a methyl Grignard reagent andsubsequent reaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with orwithout isolating the novel reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR10##(3a); then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (c), the compoundof formula (3a), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as definedbelow, in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to refluxtemperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product,3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in high chiral purity.

A further embodiment of the process for preparing compound (1),comprises:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is C₁ -C₃ -alkyl,with an anion of an anion of an imine of acetone and subsequent reactionof the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with or without isolating thenovel reaction product of formula (3), ##STR11## (3); then (b) reactingthe reaction product of step (a), the compound of formula (3), with acyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as defined below, in a suitablesolvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to reflux temperature for from3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product, in high chiral purity.

A further preferred embodiment is the process for preparing the compoundof formula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk is methyl, with ananion of anion of an imine of acetone, wherein the imine may be1-methylethylidine-cyclohexylamine or 1-methylethylidineisopropylamineand subsequent reaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with orwithout isolating the novel reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR12##(3a); then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (a), the compoundof formula (3a), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as definedbelow, in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to refluxtemperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product,in high chiral purity.

A further more preferred embodiment is the process for preparing thecompound of formula (1), wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (2), wherein Alk and R¹ are methyl,with an anion of 1-methylethylidineisopropylamine and subsequentreaction of the intermediate with hydroxylamine, with or withoutisolating the novel reaction product of formula (3a), ##STR13## (3a);then (b) reacting the reaction product of step (a), the compound offormula (3a), with a cyclizing and dehydrating reagent, as definedbelow, in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from 0° C. to refluxtemperature for from 3-to-48 hours, and isolating the desired product,3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in high chiral purity.

Alternately, the desired 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compound of formula (1) may beprepared in high yield by a novel process comprising:

(a) reacting a starting material, (S)-pyroglutamic acid, of formula (5),##STR14## (5), with an esterifying reagent at from -10° C. to 80° C. forfrom 3-to-48 hours, to prepare the (S)-pyroglutamic acid ester offormula (6), ##STR15## (6), wherein R¹ is methyl or ethyl; (b) reactingthe compound of formula (6) with an excess of a salt of the dianion ofacetone oxime in a suitable solvent, at a temperature of from -30° C. toambient temperature, with vigorous mixing of the reagents, to form theintermediate product,1-(1-methyl-5-oxo-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime, which isnot isolated, but which is cyclized and dehydrated by reaction with astrong acid at ambient-to-reflux temperature for from 0.5-to-3 hours, toproduce the novel 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone compoundof formula (7), ##STR16## (7); (c) reducing the compound of formula (7)with a reducing agent known to reduce lactams to cyclic amines,particularly an agent selected from the group consisting of lithiumaluminum hydride, NaBH₄ /BF₃, NaBH₄ /CH₃ SO₃ H, NaBH₄ /camphor sulfonicacid, borane/dimethyl sulfide and borane/THF, to give the3-methyl-5-(2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compound of formula (8),##STR17## (8), which may or may not be isolated; then

(d) N-alkylating the reaction product from step (c), the compound offormula (8), by treatment with an N-alkylating agent, such asformaldehyde, acetaldehyde or propanal, for example, in the presence ofa reducing agent and under reaction conditions capable of reducing animinium compound, and isolating the desired product of formula (1), inhigh chiral purity.

A preferred embodiment of the alternate process for preparing compound(1), wherein Alk is methyl, is the process comprising:

(a) reacting the starting material, (S)-pyroglutamic acid, of formula(5), ##STR18## (5), with methanol as the esterifying reagent at from-10° C. to 60° C. for from 4-to-48 hours, to prepare the(S)-pyroglutamic acid ester of formula (6), ##STR19## (6) wherein R¹ ismethyl; (b) reacting the compound of formula (6) with an excess of asalt of the dianion of acetone oxime in a solution of THF:hexane, at atemperature of from -10° C. to ambient temperature, with vigorous mixingof the reagents, to form the intermediate product,1-(1-methyl-5-oxo-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime, which isnot isolated, but which is cyclized and dehydrated by reaction with astrong acid at ambient-to-reflux temperature for from 0.5-to-3 hours, toproduce the novel 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone compoundof formula (7), ##STR20## (7); (c) reducing the compound of formula (7)with a reducing agent known to reduce lactams to cyclic amines,particularly an agent selected from the group consisting of lithiumaluminum hydride, NaBH₄ /BF₃, NaBH₄ /CH₃ SO₃ H, NaBH₄ /camphor sulfonicacid, borane/dimethyl sulfide, and borane/THF, to give the3-methyl-5-(2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compound of formula (8),##STR21## (8), which is not isolated; then (d) immediately treating thereaction product from step (c) with the N-alkylating agent formaldehydein the presence of formic acid at ambient or an elevated temperature,and isolating the desired product of-formula (1), wherein Alk is methyl,in high chiral purity.

A more preferred embodiment of the alternate process is the process forpreparing compound (1) wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reacting the compound of formula (5) with methanol and sulfuric acidat about 60° C. for from 3.75-to-48 hours, to prepare the compound offormula (6), wherein R¹ is methyl;

(b) reacting the compound of formula (6) with 2.0 equivalents of thelithium salt of the dianion of acetone oxime in a solution ofTHF:hexane, wherein the ratio of THF:hexane is 3:2, and subsequentlycyclizing and dehydrating with concentrated sulfuric acid as describedabove to produce the compound of formula (7);

(c) reducing the compound of formula (7) with borane in THF to producethe compound of formula (8), which is not isolated; and then

(d) immediately N-methylating compound (8) with formaldehyde and formicacid at ambient temperature, and isolating the desired product,3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in high chiral purity.

Another alternate exemplification of the invention is the process forpreparing compound (1) wherein Alk is methyl, comprising:

(a) reducing the CBZ-protected-L-proline of formula (9), ##STR22## (9),with a suitable reducing agent to give the CBZ-protected-L-prolinol offormula (10), ##STR23## (10); (b) selectively oxidizing the prolinolcompound (10) to give the CBZ-protected-L-prolinal of formula (11),##STR24## (11); (c) condensing the compound (11) with an ylid derivedfrom acetone to give the intermediate product of formula (12), ##STR25##(12); (d) converting the ketone compound (12) into its oxime by reactionwith hydroxylamine in the presence of a weak organic base and a suitablesolvent to give the compound (13), ##STR26## (13); (e) cyclizing anddehydrating compound (13) by reaction with KI and I₂ in the presence ofa weak organic base to give the protected intermediate compound (14),##STR27## (14); and (f) reductively cleaving the protecting group byreaction with a suitable hydride reducing agent and isolating thedesired product, 3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole, in highchiral purity.

It should be recognized that certain modifications to the alternateprocess will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and such changesare intended to be within the scope of this invention. For example, theorder of steps (c) and (d) of the alternate process may be reversedwithout changing the intent of the invention.

It is intended that the process, in both original and alternate outline,will be carried out by skilled chemists who may make changes, such aspreferably, but not necessarily, carrying out sequential reactions inthe same vessel, or changing solvents or reaction temperatures orequipment, especially for economic reasons, and such modifications areto be considered within the scope of the present invention.

This process, in either form, may also be used to produce theenantiomerically-pure R-stereoisomer, beginning with the R-stereoisomerstarting material.

This invention also discloses the novel compounds,5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone (compound 7, above),3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-isoxazole(compound 4, above) and1-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime (compound 3a,above), useful for the preparation of the compound of formula 1, above.

The term "C₁ -C₃ -alkyl, refers to an aklyl group of the side indicated,such as for example, methy, ethyl, or n-propyl.

The term "cyclizing and dehydrating reagent" refers to a strong acid, asdefined below, or a reagent, such as mesyl chloride, tosyl chloride oracetic anhydride, for example, for converting an hydroxy group to aderivative which acts as a leaving group under the conditions of thereaction, thereby initiating the cyclization reaction and catalyzing thedehydration of the ring thus formed.

The term "esterifying reagent" refers to esterification with methanol orethanol, for example, in the presence of a strong acid, such as thionylchloride, sulfuryl chloride, H₂ SO₄, HCl, HBr, BF₃ or toluenesulfonicacid, with the optional presence of trimethyl orthoformate, triethylorthoformate, 2,2-dimethoxypropane or 2,2-diethoxypropane, or with areagent such as methyl iodide or ethyl iodide in the presence of a base,such as K₂ CO₃ or diisopropylamine, under the conditions specified.

The term "N-alkylating agent" refers to a combination of reagentscapable of alkylating an amine group, such as an aldehyde with acombination of a reducing agent and reaction conditions capable ofreducing an iminium compound, or to an alkyl halide or dialkyl sulfatein the presence of a mild base, for example, a tertiary amine or analkali metal carbonate; in particular, an "N-methylating reagent", asused herein, refers to a combination of reagents capable of methylatingan amine group, such as the combinations of formaldehyde and formicacid; formaldehyde and sodium borohydride or sodiumtriacetoxyborohydride; formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde and hydrogen inthe presence of a catalyst, such-as Pd/C or Pd/BaSO₄ ; methyl iodide andtriethylamine; or methyl iodide and an alkali metal carbonate orbicarbonate salt, under the conditions specified.

The term "strong acid" refers to those acids such as conc. H₂ SO₄, HCl,p-toluenesulfonic acid, or a strongly acidic cationic ion exchangeresin, such as Dowex® 50 or Amberlyte® IR-112, for example.

The following examples are provided as illustration and not limitationof the novel process of the invention.

The following abbreviations are used: DMF for dimethylformamide; e.e.for enantiomeric excess, which is a measure of enantiomeric purity; THFfor tetrahydrofuran; TBME for t-butylmethyl ether.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

1a. L-Proline methyl ester hydrochloride

To a solution of L-Proline (115 g,1 mol) in methanol (1.2 L) at 0° C.was added sulfuryl chloride (45 mL, 0.55 mol) slowly during ˜15-20 min,then the reaction mixture stirred overnight at room temperature. After16 hours at room temperature and another 4 hours at reflux, trimethylorthoformate (120 mL, 1.1 mol) was added and heating at reflux continuedfor another 24 hr. The reaction mixture was then concentrated and theresultant oil was placed under high vacuum for several days to affordthe product as a clear oil (205 g).

1b. N-Methyl proline methyl ester

A 10.42 g (62.92 mmol) sample of L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride(Aldrich Chemical Co.) was reductively methylated over 2.5 g of 10% Pd/Cunder 4 Atm of hydrogen in a solution containing 20 g of sodium acetateand 49.5 mL of 37% aqueous formaldehyde for 48 hours. Upon completion ofthe reaction, the methanolic solution was concentrated and the residuewas dissolved in 10% aq. HCl (60 mL) and washed with ether (3×100 mL),then the aqueous layer was adjusted to pH ˜12 with K₂ CO₃ (solid) andextracted with methylene chloride (3×75 mL). The combined methylenechloride layers were dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to afford the crudeproduct as a clear oil (16.6 g, 77% yield).

1c. 1-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime

To a solution of acetone oxime (Aldrich, 9.91 g, 135 mmol, 2.0 eq.;recrystallized 1x hexanes) in THF (100 mL) under argon at 0° C. wasadded n-BuLi (Aldrich, 1.6M in Hexane, 169 mL, 4.0 eq.) dropwise over a20 minute period. After ˜1.5 hours at 0° C. a solution of N-methylproline methyl ester (9.71 g, 67.8 mmoL, 1.0 eq., the product of step1b) in THF (10 mL) was added over a 15 minute period. After stirring anadditional 5 hours at 0° C. the reaction mixture was slowly poured intoa vigorously stirred solution of 10% aq. HCl (400 mL, cooled to 0° C. ),then the layers were separated and the aqueous layer was washed withether (2×250 mL), then adjusted to pH ˜9-10 with NaHCO₃ /Na₂ CO₃ (solid)and extracted with methylene chloride (4×150 mL). The combined methylenechloride layers were dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to afford the crudeproduct as a pale yellow oil (71%). MS (Cl, DCl/NH₃) m/e 185 (M+H)⁺. ¹NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 1.57-1.91 (br.m., 4H); 2.02 (s, 3H); 2.42-2.52 (m, 1H);2.53 (s, 3H); 2.75 (dd, 1H); 2.80 (d, 2H); 3.15 (m, 1H).

1d. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

To a solution of the oxime product of step 1c (8.88 g, 48.2 mmol, 1.0eq.) in methylene chloride (200 mL) under argon at 0° C. was addedtriethylamine (8.73 mL, 62.6 mmoL, 1.3 eq.) followed by mesyl chloride(4.47 mL, 57.8 mmoL, 1.2 eq.) dropwise, then the reaction mixture wasallowed to gradually warm to room temperature. After 20 hours thereaction mixture was quenched with 10% aq. HCl (150 mL), the methylenechloride was removed on a rotary evaporator, and the aqueous layerwashed with ether (2×100 mL) then adjusted to pH ˜9-10 with NaHCO₃ /Na₂CO₃ (solid) and extracted with methylene chloride (4×100 mL). Thecombined methylene chloride layers were dried (MgSO₄) and concentratedto afford the crude product as a brownish oil (6.38 g). Chromatographicpurification (silica; 5% methanolic CHCl₃) followed by vacuumdistillation (b.p. ˜80°-90° C.@2-3 mm Hg) afforded the product as aclear oil (2.62 g, 32%). [α]_(D) ²³° =-13.1° (c 0.9, MeOH). MS (DCl/NH₃)m/e: 153 (M+H)⁺. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ1.80-2.00 (m, 3H), 1.99 (br s, 1H,NH), 2.14-2.21 (m, 1H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.96-3.16 (m, 2H), 4.32 (dd, 1H),5.95 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 2 Intermediate-Scale Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole hydrochloride

2a. 1-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime

To n-BuLi (Aldrich, 2.5M in hexane, 614 mL, 1.53 mol, 4:4 eq.), dilutedto 1.6M with hexane (342 mL), under argon at 0° C. was added a solutionof acetone oxime (Aldrich, 56.15 g, 768 mmol, 2.2 eq.; recrystallized 1xhexanes) in THF (500 mL) dropwise over a 90 minute period (butaneevolved!). After an additional 2 hours at 0° C. a solution of N-methylproline methyl ester (50.0 g, 349 mmoL, 1.0 eq., the product of step 1babove) in THF (75 mL) was added over a 90 minute period. After stirringan additional 20 hours at 0° C. the reaction mixture was slowlycannulated into a vigorously stirred solution of 10% aq. HCl (1700 mL,cooled to 0° C.) over a 40 minute period. The layers were separated andthe aqueous layer was washed with ether (1000 mL), then adjusted to pH˜9-10 with NaHCO₃ /Na₂ CO₃ (solid) and extracted with methylene chloride(4×800 mL). The combined methylene chloride layers were dried (MgSO₄)and concentrated to afford the crude product as a pale yellow oil,(53.62 g), along with 10-20% of the N-oxide byproduct (by NMRintegration). MS (Cl, DCl/NH₃) m/e 185 (M+H)⁺. ¹ NMR (CDCl₃) δ:1.57-1.91 (br.m., 4H); 2.02 (s, 3H); 2.42-2.52 (m, 1H); 2.53 (s, 3H);2.75 (dd, 1H); 2.80 (d, 2H); 3.15 (m, 1H).

2b. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole hydrochloride

To a solution of the oxime product of step 2a above (53.60 g, 291 mmol,1.0 eq.) in CH₂ Cl₂ (1000 mL) under argon at 0° C. was addedtriethylamine (52.71 mL, 378 mmoL, 1.3 eq.) followed by mesyl chloride(27.02 mL, 349 mmoL, 1.2 eq.) dropwise, then the reaction mixtureallowed to warm to room temperature. After 18 hours the reaction mixturewas extracted with 10% aq HCl (800 mL, 200 mL, 100 mL), the combinedaqueous layers washed with Et₂ O (800 mL), then adjusted to pH ˜9-10with NaHCO₃ /Na₂ CO₃ (solid) and extracted with methylene chloride(4×500 mL). The combined methylene chloride layers were dried (MgSO₄)and concentrated to afford the crude product as a brownish oil. Vacuumdistillation of this crude product afforded the amine, which was treatedwith ethereal HCl to afford the hydrochloride salt as a white solid(30.53 g, 43% yield from N-methyl proline methyl ester). Analyticallypure product was obtained via recrystallization from EtOH/EtOAc.mp.=155°-157° C. [α]²³ _(D) =-32.4° (c 0.58, MeOH). MS (DCl/NH₃) m/e 167(M+H)⁺, 184 (M+NH₄). ¹ H NMR (D₂ O, 300 MHz) δ2.23-2.48 (m, 3H), 2.34(s, 3H), 2.55-2.68(m, 1H), 2.92 (br s, 3H), 3.33-3.45 (m, 1H), 3.72-3.82(m, 1H), 4.74-4.84 (partly buried in H₂ O peak, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H). Anal.calcd. for C₉ H₁₅ ClN₂ O: C, 53.33; H, 7.46; N, 13.82. Found: C, 53.52;H,7.49; N, 13.62.

EXAMPLE 3 Another Preparation of 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

3a. N-Methyl (L)-proline

To 175 mL of methanol containing (L)-proline (33 g, 286.7 mmol) and 37wt % of aqueous formaldehyde (24 mL) was added 10% Pd/C (1.65 g), andthe reaction mixture was hydrogenated at 4 Atm of H₂. After the reactionwas complete, the catalyst was removed by filtration, the filtrate wasconcentrated; and the residue was triturated with ether and dried underhigh vacuum. The crude product was obtained as a white powder (33.44. g,90%). MS (DCl/NH₃) m/e 130 (M+H)⁺, 147 (M+NH₄)⁺ ; ¹ H-NMR (D₂ O) d1.94-2.23 (m, 4H); 2.45-2.57 (m, 1H); 2.94 (s, 3H); 3.16 (m, 1H); 3.74(m, 1H); 3.90 (dd, 1H).

3b. N-Methyl (L)-Proline Methyl Ester

To a solution of N-methyl (L)-proline, from step 3a, in methanol at 0°C. is added thionyl chloride (1.1 eq) dropwise, and the reaction mixtureis slowly allowed to warm to room temperature. Upon completion of thereaction the solvent is removed in vacuo, and the crude product isdissolved in 10% aq. HCl and washed with ether. The aqueous layer isadjusted to pH ˜12 with K₂ CO₃ (solid) and extracted with CH₂ Cl₂. Thecombined CH₂ Cl₂ layers are dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to afford thecrude product as a clear oil.

3c. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

The N-methyl (L)-proline methyl ester, from step 3b, is reactedaccording to the procedures of Example 1, steps c and d, to give thetitle product.

EXAMPLE 4 Another Intermediate scale preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

4a. (S)-Pyroglutamic acid methyl ester

A 500 g sample of L-pyroglutamic acid was added to 2.8 L of anhydrousmethanol, 28 mL of H₂ SO₄ was added, and the mixture was stirred for 4hr at 60° C. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, 262 gof NaHCO₃ was added, and the mixture was stirred for an additional 16hr. The mixture was dried by addition of 314 g of Na₂ SO₄ with stirringfor 1 hr, then the mixture was filtered and the solvent was evaporatedunder vacuum to yield a pale yellow oil. The oil was dissolved in THF,and a small amount of unreacted acid was filtered off. The THF wasremoved under vacuum, and the residual oil was dried by azeotropicdistillation with toluene.

4b. 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone

Acetone oxime (2.924 kg, 40 moo was dissolved in 17.5 L of THF stirredunder N₂, and the solution was cooled to -40° C. Addition of 8 L ofn-butyllithium (10M in hexane, 6.09 kg) was carefully accomplished at arate such that the temperature of the reaction did not rise above 5° C.To this solution was added 2.719 kg of the compound from step 4a abovedissolved in 7 L of THF, also at a rate such that the temperature of thereaction did not rise above 5° C. After addition of the reactants, themixture was stirred for 12 hr at room temperature. The mixture wascooled to 0° C., and 8.891 kg of H₂ SO₄ and 4.8 L of water was added ata rate such that the temperature of the reaction did not dee above 35°C. The reaction was subsequently heated, and refluxing began at 60° C.The reaction was stirred for 1 hr, cooled to 20° C., and 9.32 kg of Na₂CO₃ was added slowly. The mixture was filtered, then the filter cake wasreintroduced into the reactor and stirred with 15 L of ethyl acetate for1 hr. The solution was filtered, and the residue was washed with 2.5 Lof ethyl acetate. The solutions were combined and evaporated to dryness.The residual dark oil was stripped with xylene to remove excess acetoneoxime. The residue was dissolved in t-butylmethylether (TBME), and waterwas added. A tarry residue, which contained polar side-products,separated. The TBME solution was evaporated, and the residue was allowedto stand for 2 hr. A colorless oil containing apolar impurities rose tothe top and was removed. The remaining residue was mixed with twice thevolume of TBME and seeded, with subsequent crystallization occurring atroom temperature. m.p=90°-91° C.

4c. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

The compound from step 4b above (3.047 kg, 18.3 mol) was dissolved in 14L of THF and placed under N₂. At room temperature, borane-THF complex(55 L, 55 mol) was introduced at a rate such that the internaltemperature remained at 30° C. At the end of the exothermic and foamingaddition, the reaction was heated at reflux (67° C.) for 1 hr. Thereaction mixture was then cooled to 0° C., and 8.2 L of methanol wasslowly added so that the internal temperature remained at 20° C. Themixture was then stirred for 2 hr. at room temperature, and the solventwas evaporated under vacuum to yield a yellow oil, which solidified uponstanding. This residue was emulsified with water and cooled to 10° C. Asolution of formaldehyde (35%, 2.1 L, 27.5 mol) and formic acid (97%,990 mL, 18.3 mol) was added to the emulsion, and the exothermic andeffervescent reaction was maintained at an internal temperature below30° C. The mixture was the cooled to 10° C., 1 kg (9.5 mol) of Na₂ CO₃was added in portions, and the mixture was stirred for 1 hr. NaOH (10%,2.29 L) was added, followed by 5.5 L of water. The product was isolatedby extraction with ethyl acetate, which was dried over MgSO₄, filteredand concentrated to dryness. The product was double distilled, dissolvedin ethyl acetate, converted to the HCl salt with ethanolic HCl,recrystallized from ethyl acetate, suspended in ethyl acetate,re-converted to the base with treatment with 30% NaOH solution, thelayers separated, the organic layer washed with brine, dried andevaporated, to yield the product, which was finally distilled to yield490 g of the pure title product (e.e.=99.5%).

EXAMPLE 5 Large Scale Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

5a. (S)-Pyroglutamic acid methyl ester

Methanol (62 L, 1.155 mol), L-pyroglutamic acid (20 kg, 154.9 mol) andH₂ SO₄ (97%, 0.87 L, 15.5 mol) were introduced into a reactor. Thesuspension was warmed to 60° C. and stirred until the pyroglutamic acidconcentration dropped below 10%. The temperature of the reactor jacketwas lowered to 0° C., and when the internal temperature reached 30° C.,9.7 kg (68.1 mol) of Na₂ SO₄ was added and stirred for 15 min, then 8.1kg (96.4 mol) of NaHCO₃ was added. When pH 7 was reached (about 10 min),the suspension was filtered over a pad of celite. The filtrate wasreintroduced into the reactor, and the methanol was distilled off at apressure of 90-160 mbar and a jacket temperature of 50° C. Ethyl acetate(53 L) was then added with stirring, the mixture cooled to 0° C., andthe mixture stirred for 16 hr. Unreacted pyroglutamic acid crystallizedout and was removed by filtration. Removal of the ethyl acetate byevaporation under reduced pressure provided the title product as aviscous yellow oil, which was taken to the next step without furtherpurification.

5b. (S)-N-methyl-pyroglutamic acid methyl ester

The methyl ester compound from step 5a above (18.3 kg, 127.8 mol) anddimethyl sulfate (20.09 kg, 159.3 mol) were introduced into a reactor,and the mixture was heated to 60° C. under an N₂ atmosphere. Heating wascontinued until the concentration of starting material dropped below15%. An additional 6.25 kg (0.5 eq) of dimethyl sulfate was added withexothermic response. The thick reaction mixture was then cooled to 25°C., and a solution of triethylamine (16.12 kg) in diethyl ether (19.2 L)was added at such a rate that the temperature did not rise above 30° C.The emulsion was washed with two 50 L portions of water. The ether layerwas separated, and the residue was extracted with ethyl acetate (60 l).The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂ SO₄ and azeotroped withtoluene until no more triethylamine remained in the residue. The residuewas mixed with dimethyl sulfate (1.7 kg, 13.5 mol) and THF (70 L) andrefluxed under nitrogen until the reaction was complete. The solventswere evaporated under vacuum, and the residue was-distilled under highvacuum to yield a colorless product.

5c. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

THF (56.7 L) was placed in a cryogenic reactor, and acetone oxime (4.4kg, 73.1 mol) was added under nitrogen, and the solution was cooled to-40° C. Under nitrogen, n-butyllithium (10M in hexane, 13 L, 64.06 mol)was added at a rate such that the internal temperature did not exceed 5°C. (extremely exothermic reaction), and then stirred for 2 hr at 0° C.To this solution was added the compound from step 5b above, at a ratesuch that the internal temperature did not exceed 5° C. At the end ofthe addition, cooling was discontinued, and the mixture was stirred for16 hr at room temperature. The thick suspension was cooled to 0° C. andtreated with a mixture of H₂ SO₄ (12.52 kg, 123 mol) and ice water (7kg) with vigorous stirring while maintaining the internal temperature atless than 10° C. The mixture was next heated to reflux temperature andheld at that temperature for 1 hr (butane was evolved). The mixture wasthen cooled to room temperature, and 21.08 kg (152.5 mol) of K₂ CO₃ wasadded in portions, with stirring until pH>7 was reached, then filtered.The filter cake was washed with ethyl acetate (26.6 L), and the filtratewas evaporated under vacuum and azeotroped three times with xylene (10L). The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (14 L) and washed with 1MHCl (7 L). The aqueous phase was back extracted with ethyl acetate (3×14L). The combined Organic phases were dried over MgSO₄ and filtered oversilica gel. The filter cake was washed with 5 L of ethyl acetate. Thecombined organic layers were evaporated to dryness in a rotaryevaporator, and the resulting oil was taken directly to the next stepwithout further purification. The oil (3.17 kg, 18.3 mol) was dissolvedin 13.8 L of THF and stirred under nitrogen. Borane-THF complex (1M, 55L, 55 mol) was introduced at a rate such that the internal temperaturedid not rise above 30° C. The mixture was stirred for 30 min, thencooled to 0° C., 11.1 L of HCl (1M, 55 mol) was added, then refluxed for30 min. The THF was distilled off under reduced pressure, and theresulting suspension was filtered. The residue was washed with water.The combined filtrates were neutralized with said K₂ CO₃ solution andextracted with 30 L of diethyl ether. The organic phase was dried overMgSO₄ and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was redissolved inethyl acetate, and washed once with 2M HCl and twice with 1M HCl. Thecombined aqueous solutions were extracted twice with ethyl acetate andstirred with ethyl acetate, ice and 30% NaOH. The ethyl acetate extractswere combined, washed with brine, then dried over MgSO₄ and stirred with0.3 kg of silica gel for 10 min. The mixture was filtered and thesolvents were evaporated to dryness in a rotary evaporator to yield 2.58kg of an oil. The oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate and cooled to 0°C., then 1.88 kg (15.5 mol, 1 eq) of an 30.1% ethanolic HCl solution wasadded. The solution was seeded and stirred for 2 hr. Crystals werefiltered off; washed with ethyl acetate, and dried under high vacuum.The mother liquor was diluted with 10 L of ethyl acetate and stirredwith 2.3 L of 30% NaOH. The phases were separated, and the aqueous phasewas extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers werewashed with brine and dried over MgSO₄, then concentrated to recover thebase for a second crop. The crystalline hydrochloride salt (1.68 kg) wassuspended in 4 L of ethyl acetate, which was then vigorously mixed with4 L of 1N NaOH. The phases were separated, and the aqueous phase wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washedwith brine and dried over MgSO₄, then evaporated under vacuum. Theproduct was distilled at 92° C. at 12-13 mm Hg (e.e.=99.5%).

EXAMPLE 6 Another Large Scale Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

6a. N-Methyl-proline methyl ester

Methanol (2.2 L, 68.66 mol) was stirred under nitrogen and cooled to 0°C. Sulfuric acid (97%, 0.179 L, 3.26 mol) was added with vigorousstirring at a rate such that the internal temperature of the reactor didnot rise above 10° C. L-Proline (0.5 kg, 4.34 mol) was added to themethanol, and the reaction was refluxed for 18 hr. The reaction mixturewas cooled to 0° C., and with vigorous stirring a solution of K₂ CO₃(0.217 kg, 1.57 mol) in 0.363 L of water was slowly added to themixture, until the pH was between pH 7 and 8. The neutralized solutionwas again cooled to 0° C., and aqueous formaldehyde solution (36%, 0.543L) was added. After stirring for 15 min, 0.082 kg (2.17 mol) of powderedsodium borohydride was added in portions while maintaining thetemperature between -5° and +5° C. The suspension was stirred for 3 hr,then filtered, and the filter cake was washed with toluene. The combinedorganic solvents were diluted 1:1 with water (2.6 L) and filtered. Theorganic phase was separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted at 0°C. with 5×0.5 L portions of toluene. The toluene extracts were combined,dried over sodium sulfate and filtered. The volume of the solution wasreduced by half by distillation at 60° C. and 90 mbar pressure. Thesolution was taken to the next step without further purification.

6b. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

THF (36.4 L) was stirred under nitrogen, and acetone oxime (3.034 kg,41.5 mol) was added. The solution was cooled to -40° C., andn-butyllithium (10M in hexane, 8.3 L, 83 mol) was added at a rate suchthat the internal temperature did not rise above 5° C. (very exothermicreaction). Stirring was continued for an additional 2 hr, with thetemperature maintained between 0° and 5° C. Under nitrogen THF (16.6 L)was added and the mixture was cooled to -10° C. The solution of N-methylproline methyl ester, from step 6a above, was diluted with 3.3 L of THF(to a total of 23.5 L) and cooled to 0° C. Into a third reactorcontaining a small amount to THF, the solutions of the acetone oximedianion and the ester were simultaneously added dropwise at the ratio ofdianion to ester of 2:1. The internal temperature of the reaction vesselwas maintained between -12° and -6° C., and the temperatures of theadded solutions were 5° C. After addition was complete, the reactionmixture was stirred for 1 hr at -10° C. To the reaction was added amixture of 97% sulfuric acid (10.99 kg, 108.7 mol) in ice water (6.177kg) in portions such that the temperature did not rise above 10° C. Thesolution was heated at reflux for 3 hr with vigorous stirring, and 25 Lof THF was distilled off. The mixture was cooled to 25° C., and solidNa₂ CO₃ (7.687 kg, 72.5 mol) was added in portions, with vigorousstirring. The yellow precipitate was filtered and washed with 2×12.5 Lportions of THF. The filtrate was evaporated in a rotary evaporator andazeotroped with 3×3 L of toluene. The residue was filtered through acolumn of silica gel, and the product was eluted with 41.5 L of 3%methanol in ethyl acetate. The eluate was evaporated to dryness, and theproduct was vacuum distilled (0.1 mbar, 70° C., e.e.=99.5%).

EXAMPLE 7 Another Preparation of N-Methyl-L-proline methyl ester

The procedure of Example 13a is repeated, replacing the aqueousformaldehyde solution with methanolic paraformaldehyde solution, andhydrogenating in the presence of 10% Pd/C under 4 Atm of H₂ at 50° C.The catalyst is filtered off, and the solvent and unreacted aldehyde areremoved by evaporation under vacuum. The residual N-methyl-L-proline isthen dissolved in and reacted with methanol in the presence of H₂ SO₄ atreflux for 4-24 hr. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C., and withvigorous stirring a solution of K₂ CO₃ is slowly added to the mixture,until the pH is between pH 7 and 8, then the title product is extractedfrom the basic mixture and isolated after drying and removal of thesolvent.

EXAMPLE 8 Another Preparation of N-Methyl-L-proline methyl ester

The L-proline is dissolved in methanol, the solution is cooled to 0° C.and 36% aqueous formaldehyde is added with stirring. To this solution isthen added powdered NaBH₄ in portions while maintaining the temperaturebetween -5° and +5° C. The reaction is filtered, the filter cakeextracted with solvent and combined with the filtrate, and the solventsevaporated to dryness. The residual N-methyl-L-proline is then dissolvedin and reacted with methanol in the presence of H₂ SO₄ at reflux for4-24 hr. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C., and with vigorousstirring a solution of K₂ CO₃ is slowly added to the mixture, until thepH is between pH 7 and 8, then the title product is extracted from thebasic mixture and isolated after drying and removal of the solvent.

EXAMPLE 9 Another Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

9a. Preparation of the Na/Li salt of the dianion of acetone oxime

Acetone is dissolved in methanol and reacted with 1.1 equivalents ofhydroxylamine dihydrogen sulfate salt at 60° C. To this solution is thenadded 2.2 equivalent of sodium methoxide, and the reaction is heated atreflux until complete. The solvents are removed by evaporation undervacuum, and the residue is dried under vacuum. The residue is dissolvedin anhydrous THF, cooled to -10° C., then 1.3 equivalents ofn-butyllithium are added at a rate such that the temperature ismaintained between -10° and 0° C.

9b. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

The solution of the Na/Li salt of the dianion of acetone oxime from step9a above is then substituted for the dilithium salt of the dianion inExample 6 and the reaction is conducted according to the procedure ofExample 6 to prepare and isolate the title compound.

EXAMPLE 10 Acetonitrile Route to Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

10a N-Methyl-proline methyl ester.

A 2-L three neck round-bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer,internal temperature monitor, and addition funnel was charged withN-methyl proline (155.3 g, 1.20 mole) and methanol (800 mL). The vesselwas chilled to 0° C. and sulfuryl chloride (110 mL, 1.33 mole) was addeddropwise via the addition funnel at a rate such that the internaltemperature remained ≦+15° C. The cold bath was replaced with a heatingmantle and trimethyl orthoformate (150 mL, 1.37 mole) was added quicklyover 5 min. The reaction was heated to gentle reflux for 5 hours, thencooled to room temperature. The bulk of the solvent was evaporated invacuo. The remainder was basified with saturated Na₂ CO₃ solution (ca. 1L, pH 9-10) and partitioned with ethyl acetate (1 L). The aqueous phasewas extracted with ethyl acetate (4×500 mL), and the combined organicswere washed with brine (1×1 L) and then dried (Na₂ SO₄). Afterfiltration and solvent evaporation the residue was distilled at reducedpressure (13 mm Hg, bp 56° C.) to give 125.7 g (73% yield, ≧99% ee).

10b. (S)-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)cyanomethyl ketone.

A 3-L three neck round-bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer,addition funnel, internal temperature monitor, and N₂ inlet was chargedwith sodium amide (97.9 g, 2.25 mole) and tetrahydrofuran (1350 mL). Thesuspension was cooled to ca. -40° to -45° C. and a solution ofacetonitrile (135 mL, 2.58 mole) and tetrahydrofuran (75 mL) was addeddropwise at such a rate that the internal temperature remained ≦36° C.The nearly homogeneous solution was stirred ca. 13 min and was thenadded via a dry ice cooled cannula to a 5-L three neck round-bottomflask equipped with an overhead stirrer, internal temperature monitorand nitrogen outlet and charged with a solution of N-methylprolinemethyl ester (125.5 g, 0.876 mole) and tetrahydrofuran (1350 mL) cooledto ca. -40° to -45° C. The internal temperature was maintained ≧-40° C.throughout the addition. After 1 hr the reaction was quenched by theaddition of solid ammonium chloride (131 g, 2.45 mole). The cold bathwas removed and the reaction was allowed to warm to +5° C. over about1.5 h. Filter-aid (250 g) was added, and the mixture was filteredthrough a pad of filter-aid (250 g, 2" h×6" diam.) topped with sand (500g). The filter cake was washed with THF (ca. 1 L) to remove most of thecolor. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and the foamy orangeresidue, 267.2 g, was used directly in the next step.

10c. (s)-3-Oxo-1-methyl-3-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-1-propenamine

A 3-L three neck round-bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer,addition funnel, internal temperature monitor, and N₂ inlet was chargedwith the above crude ketonitrile (267 g, ca. 0.87 mole) dissolved intetrahydrofuran (1 L) and chilled to -5° to -10° C. Methyl magnesiumchloride (930 mL, 3M THF, 2.79 mole) was added via addition funnel atsuch a rate as to maintain the internal temperature ≧+5° C. Followingthe addition the cold bath was removed, and the reaction was allowed towarm to room temperature and stir 15 hr. The dark mixture was carefullypoured into ice (1.5 kg) and stirred 5-10 min. The aqueous portion wasexhaustively extracted with ethyl acetate (ca. 15 to 20×1 L). Thecombined organics were dried (Na₂ SO₄), filtered, and evaporated leaving158.2 g dark oil used directly in the next step.

10d. (S)-3-methyl-5-(N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole.

A 2-L three neck round-bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer,reflux condenser, internal temperature monitor, and N₂ inlet was chargedwith the above crude ketoenamine (158 g, ca. 0.87 mole), acetonitrile(1000 mL), and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (64.0 g, 0.92 mole) andstirred at room temperature for 6 hours. Aqueous 50% sulfuric acid(9.4M, 240 mL, 2.26 mole) was added, and the mixture was heated toreflux for 1 hr. After cooling, the bulk of the solvents were removed invacuo. The residue was basified by the addition of saturated sodiumcarbonate solution (ca 1.2 L, to pH 9-10), saturated with sodiumchloride, and extracted with ethyl acetate (4×500 mL). The combinedorganics were washed with brine (1×1 L) and then dried (MgSO₄ +activatedcarbon). The mixture was filtered, the filtrate was concentrated and theresidue was distilled at reduced pressure (10 mm Hg, bp 98°-101° C.) togive 71.97 g light yellow oil (49% overall yield from ester, ≧98% ee).Analytical data agree with that of Example 1, above.

EXAMPLE 11 Large Scale Preparation via Acetonitrile Route to3-Methyl-5(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole hydrochloride

11a. (S)-1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid methyl ester

L-Proline (46 kg), paraformaldehyde (13.2 kg), palladium on carbon (5%,350 g) and methanol (158 kg) were charged into a hydrogenation reactorand hydrogenated at 40 psi for 6 hr. The mixture was filtered, and thefiltrate returned to a reaction vessel. Trimethyl orthoformate (170 kg)and thionyl chloride (171 kg) were added, and the mixture was heated atreflux for 2 hr. The volatiles were then removed by distillation undervacuum. The residue was dissolved in methylene chloride (215 kg), andaqueous sodium carbonate solution (10%, 360 kg) was added to themixture. After vigorous mixing, the methylene chloride layer wasseparated. The aqueous layer was extracted with methylene chloride (215kg), and the extract combined with the first organic extract. Thesolvent was dried with sodium sulfate (anhydrous, 40 kg) and filtered.The volatiles were removed by distillation under vacuum, and the residuewas distilled under high vacuum (10 mm Hg) to yield the product (34.5kg, 60% yield).

11b. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole hydrochloride

A solution of 31.4 kg of the ester compound from step 11a above, andacetonitrile (18 kg) dissolved in THF (19 kg) was added to a suspensionof sodium amide (20 kg) in THF (195 kg) at -15° C. and stirred for 2 hr.Ammonium chloride (25.9 kg), methanol (10 kg) and THF (50 kg) werecharged into the reactor. The mixture was stirred, then filtered, andthe volatiles were distilled off under vacuum. The residue was dissolvedin THF (170 kg), and methyl magnesium chloride (3M, 189 kg) was added tothe mixture. The reaction was stirred for 8 hr, then quenched with water(44 kg) and aqueous sulfuric acid solution (25%, 114 kg). The volatileswere again removed under Vacuum, and the pH of the residue adjusted toapproximately pH 7 with aqueous sulfuric acid solution. To the residuewas added 16.8 kg of hydroxylamine, and the mixture was stirred for 3hr. The reactor was then charged with 15 kg of conc. sulfuric acid, andthe mixture was heated at 70° C. for 3 hr. The mixture was cooled, andaqueous sodium hydroxide (50%) was added to adjust to approximately pH11. The product was then co-distilled out of the mixture with water.Sodium chloride was added to the distillate, which was then extractedwith ethyl acetate. The organic extract was dried over sodium sulfate,filtered, and concentrated to yield the crude product as an oil. The oilwas distilled under high vacuum to yield 14 kg of a colorless oil, whichwas then dissolved in ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate solution wascharged into a solution of HCl gas in ethyl acetate. The resulting saltwas filtered, then dried at 45° C. under vacuum to give 15.4 kg of thetitle product. The salt was recrystallized from acetone, filtered anddried at 50° C. under vacuum to give 11.6 g of the pure title compound

EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole viaN-(1-methylethylidine)cyclohexanamine

12a. 3-(Cyclohexylamino)-1-(1-methyl-5-pyrrolidinyl)-2-butene-1-one

Diisopropylamine (2.12 g, 21 mmol) and THF (35 mL) were added to athree-necked flask, which was flushed with N₂. The solution was stirredwith ice cooling, and n-butyllithium (1.6M in hexane, 12.5 mL, 20 mmol)was added dropwise over 20 min. To the resulting solution was addedN-(1-methylethylidine)cyclohexanamine (prepared via the procedure of J.Org. Chem., 19:1054, 1954), over a 15 min period while maintaining thetemperature at 0°±2° C., and the resulting solution was stirred at 0° C.for 20 min. To this solution was added 1.43 g (10.0 mmol) of N-methylproline methyl ester over a 1 hr period, with stirring and cooling tomaintain a temperature of 0°±2° C. The reaction was quenched by rapidaddition of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution (10 mL). Thelayers were separated, and the aqueous layer was extracted one with 10mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined and dried over Na₂SO₄. The solution was decanted from the solids and concentrated on arotary evaporator to provide the product as a viscous oil (2.50 g). ¹ HNMR (CDCl₃) δ: 11.18 (br, 1H), 5.20 (s, 1H),3.40 (m, 1H), 2.62 (m, 1H),2.33 (s, 3H), 2.21 (m, 1H), 1.97 (s, 3H), 1.9-1.5 (m, 8H), 1.5-1.0 (m,6H). ¹³ C NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 197.48 (s), 163.21 (s), 91.07 (d), 74.43 (d),56.93 (t), 51.50 (d), 41.34 (q), 36.33 (t), 33.61 (t), 33.58 (t), 30.91(t), 25.22 (t), 24.26 (t), 23.07 (t), 18.71 (q).

12b. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

Hydroxylamine HCl (70 mg, 1.0 mmol) was added to a solution of3-(cyclohexylamino)-1-(1-methyl-5-pyrrolidinyl)-2-butene-1-one (160 mg,0.64 mmol, from step 12a above) in 5 mL of methanol, and the mixture wasstirred at 20°±5° C. for 4 hr. The solvent was removed under vacuum at25° C., and the residue suspended in 3 mL of water and 1 mL of H₂ SO₄.The mixture was heated to 70° C. for 90 min, then cooled to roomtemperature and adjusted to pH 10 with 50% NaOH (4 g). The mixture wasextracted with ethyl acetate, and the extracts were dried over Na₂ SO₄and concentrated. The residue was confirmed as title product bychromatographic analysis. The analytical data correspond to that givenin Example 1.

EXAMPLE 13 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2((S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

13a. (S)-Pyroglutamic methyl ester

To methanol (30.0 mL), cooled to -10° to -15° C., was slowly addedsulfuryl chloride (11.0 mL, 178 mmol), DMF (0.133 mL) and L-pyroglutamicacid (L═(S) configuration, 10.0 g, 77.5 mmol, Sigma Chemical Co.). Thestirred mixture was allowed to warm slowly and then stirred at roomtemperature for 36 hours. The methanol was removed under vacuum, and theresidue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (400 mL). Water (˜10 mL) wasadded, followed by the addition of sodium carbonate until basic. Theorganic layer was decanted, the slurry was washed with ethyl acetate(4×15 mL), and the organics were then combined and dried over magnesiumsulfate. Removal of the solvent gave crude pyroglutamic methyl ester(10.04 g, 91%). NMR and MS analysis indicated >95% purity.

13b. 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone

To a cooled (0°-5° C.) solution of acetone oxime (11.74.g, 160.8 mmol)in THF (200 mL) was slowly added n-butyl lithium (128.6 mL, 2.5M, 321.6mmol) in hexanes. After being stirred at 0°-5° C. for one hour, asolution of pyroglutamic methyl ester (10.0 g, ˜69.9 mmol, the productof step 13a) in THF (50 mL) was added. After stirring for 4 hr, thesolution was allowed to slowly warm up to room temperature, and thestirring was continued for 16 hr. Sulfuric acid (35 g, 98%) was slowlyadded with cooling, followed by the addition of water (35 mL), Theresulting mixture was refluxed for one hour. The organic layer wasdecanted and the slurry was washed with ethyl acetate (5×50 mL). To themixture was added ethyl acetate (400 mL) and sodium carbonate untilbasic. Again, the organic layer was decanted and the slurry was washedwith ethyl acetate (4×20 mL), The combined organics were then dried overmagnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvents gave the title product(5.33 g, 46%), which was taken directly to the next step. HPLC(analytical Chiralark AD column) analysis indicated >99.6% ee.

13c. 3-Methyl-5-(1methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

To a solution of crude 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone(5.33 g, 32.1 mmol, the product of step 13b) in THF (50 mL) was addedborane-THF (99.5 mL, 1.0M, 99.5 mmol) slowly at room temperature. Thereaction mixture was heated at reflux for two hours. After removal ofTHF under vacuum, a solution of formaldehyde (10.0 mL) and formic acid(5.0 mL) was carefully added, and the reaction mixture was refluxed forone hour. Ethyl acetate (300 mL) was added, followed by the addition ofsodium carbonate until basic. The organic layer was decanted, and theresidue was washed with ethyl acetate (4×20 mL). The combined organicsolvents were dried over sodium carbonate. The solvent was evaporated,and the residue was distilled (bp. ˜150° C./˜50 mm Hg) to give the titlecompound (3.12 g, 59%; 24% overall yield). The compound was furtherpurified by HPLC chromatography (CHCl₃ /MeOH, 20:1 and 10:1). HPLC(analytical Chiralark OD column) analysis indicated >99% ee. [α]_(D) ²³°=-13.1° (c 0.9, MeOH). MS (DCl/NH₃) m/e: 153 (M+H)⁺. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃)δ1.80-2.00 (m, 3H), 1.99 (br s, 1H, NH), 2.14-2.21 (m, 1H), 2.28 (s,3H), 2.96-3.16 (m, 2H), (dd, 1H), 5.95 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 14 Intermediate Scale Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

14a. (S)-Pyroglutamic acid methyl ester

Sulfuryl chloride (388 mL, 5.31 mol) was added dropwise to methanol (930mL), protected from moisture and cooled in an ice bath to keep thetemperature under 15° C. When the addition was complete and thetemperature had fallen to 4° C., (S)-pyroglutamic acid (301 g, 2.33 mol,Sigma Chemical (Co.) was added in one portion. The ice bath was allowedto melt and the reaction mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for16 hours. The solvent was removed on a rotary evaporator leaving 471 gof the crude product as a thick oil. Ethyl acetate (4 L), sodiumcarbonate (100 g), and 2M aqueous sodium carbonate (150 mL) were added,and the mixture was stirred vigorously for 1 hour. The organic layer wasdecanted from the semi-solid inorganic residue, and the residue wasextracted with ethyl acetate. The organic fractions were combined andreduced on the rotary evaporator to give 343 g of thick yellow oil. Thecrude ester was vacuum distilled at 143°-145° C. and 0.35 torr to affordthe title product (309.6 g, 92.8% yield) as a colorless oil.

14b. 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone

A 12-L Morton flask was equipped with an addition funnel, overheadstirrer, nitrogen inlet, thermoprobe, and surrounded with an ice waterbath. The flask was charged with a solution of acetone oxime (146.2 g,2.00 mol) in tetrahydrofuran (1.75 L), and n-butyllithium (2.5M inhexanes, 1.60 L, 4.00 mol) was added dropwise keeping the internaltemperature under 10° C. After addition was complete, a solution of(S)-pyroglutamic acid methyl ester (133.1 g, 0.93 mol, the product ofstep 14a) in tetrahydrofuran (700 mL) was added dropwise, keeping thetemperature under 10° C. The ice bath was allowed to melt, and theresulting mixture was stirred for 16 hr. The reaction was cooled in anice bath while concentrated sulfuric acid (234 mL, 4.40 mol) was addeddropwise, Very slowly at first, followed by water (230 mL). Thetwo-phase mixture was heated at reflux for 90 min, then cooled to roomtemperature, and the red THF/hexane organic layer was decanted from thesemisolid aqueous inorganic residue. The residue was extracted withethyl acetate (3×500 mL), then solid sodium carbonate (ca. 200 g) wasadded to the residue until basic, and it was again extracted with ethylacetate (3×500 g). The decantate and the ethyl acetate extracts werecombined, dried (MgSO₄), filtered, and the volatiles removed on therotary evaporator to give a thick red oil (ca. 140 g).

The crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel,eluting with chloroform/methanol, 92/8 to give 87.6 g of the titlecompound as a pink crystalline mass. This was further purified byslurrying and washing with diethyl ether to give off-white fluffycrystals, 60.2 g (39% yield), mp 90°-91° C. MS (DCl/NH₃) M/Z: 167(M+H)⁺, 184 (M+NH4)⁺. ¹ NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.18-2.65 (m, 6H),4.88 (dd, 1H, J=8.1, J=4.5 Hz), 6.05 (s, 1H), 4.88 (s, 3H). [α]_(D)=9.47° (23° C., c=0.94, MeOH).

14c. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

A solution of 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone (74.0 g, 0.44mol, the product of step 14b) was prepared in a 5 L Morton flask fittedwith an addition funnel, overhead stirrer, and nitrogen inlet. Asolution of borane in tetrahydrofuran (1.0M, 1.33 L) was added at amoderate rate (ca. 20 min). The reaction was heated to reflux for 90min, cooled to ambient temperature, and methanol (200 mL) added toquench the excess borane. The volatiles were removed on a rotaryevaporator, and the residue co-stripped with methanol (3×100 mL) toleave 74 g of a thick, almost colorless oil.

A solution of 37% aqueous formaldehyde (75 mL) was added dropwise to thethick oil, followed by the addition of formic acid (75 mL), and themixture was heated on the steam bath for 30 min. The pale yellowsolution was cooled in a water bath and sodium carbonate (50 g) wasadded portionwise with stirring, followed by the addition of 10% sodiumhydroxide solution (ca. 150 mL) until the pH=12. The resulting mixturewas extracted with ethyl ether (6×150 mL), the extracts combined, dried(MgSO₄), filtered, and the volatiles removed on the rotary evaporator toleave the crude product as a yellow oil, 74 g. Distillation gave 61.9 g(83.6% yield) of the purified title compound as a colorless mobileliquid, bp 92° C. at 13 torr. The analytical data agreed with that ofExample 1 above.

EXAMPLES 15-22 Preparations of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole with Various MolarEquivalents of Dianion

The procedures of Example 13 were followed, except that the quantity ofstarting material, (S)-pyroglutamic acid was varied as shown in Table 1below, and the molar equivalents of the acetone oxime dianion of step13b were varied, also as shown in Table 1 below, with the yield of thetitle product in each experiment also shown.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Yield of product based upon amounts of starting material and                  acetone dianion                                                               Example Starting material                                                                          Ratio of dianion to                                      number  (mmol)       starting material*                                                                           % Yield                                   ______________________________________                                        15      2            1.1            <30                                       16      2            1.3            <40                                       17      2            1.5            <40                                       18      2            1.7            62                                        19      3.5          1.8            81                                        20      3.5          1.9            70                                        21      354          2.0            45                                        22      30           2.3            80                                        ______________________________________                                         *Equivalents of dianion acetone oxime per mmol of starting material      

EXAMPLE 23 Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole from CBZ-protectedL-proline

23a. CBZ-L-proline

To Carbobenzyloxy-L-proline (Aldrich, 9.80 g, 39.3 mmol) in THF (100 mL)at 0° C. was added BH₃ -THF complex (Aldrich, 1M in THF, 100 mL, 100mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 hours, then at ambienttemperature for 16 hr. The reaction mixture was poured into pH 7phosphate buffer solution (500 mL) and ether (600 mL) and mixed well.The layers were separated and the aqueous portion was extracted withether (500 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (500mL), dried (Na₂ SO₄) and filtered. The solvents were evaporated in vacuoleaving the crude carbobenzyloxy-L-prolinol as an oil (10.5 g).

23b. CBZ-L-prolinal

Following the method of Leanna et al. (M. Robert Leanna, Thomas J.Sowin, Howard E. Morton, Tetrahedron Lett., 1992, 33(35), 5029-5032),carbobenzyloxy-L-prolinol (9.23 g, 39 mmole) in toluene (100 mL) at 0°C. was added NaBr (Aldrich, 4.01 g, 40 mmole) in water (45 mL) followedby 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO reagent,Aldrich, 0.05 g, 0.32 mmole). To this vigorously-stirred mixture wasadded a mixture of Na₂ CO₃ (11.16 g, 132 mmole) in water (50 mL) andaqueous NaOCl (0.7M, 65 mL, 46 mmole) dropwise over 30 minutes. Afterstirring 30 minutes at 0° C. the mixture was extracted with ethylacetate (2×250 mL). The combined organics were washed With KI in 5%KHSO₄ (1×50 mL), then aqueous Na₂ S₂ O₃ (1×100 mL), then pH 7 phosphatebuffer (1×100 mL), then brine (1×100 mL) and dried (Na₂ SO₄). Filtrationand evaporation of solvents left carbobenzyloxy-L-prolinal (5.55 g) asan oil.

23c. 1-(1-CBZ-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1-buten-3-one

To a 350 mg (1.50 mmol) sample of CBZ-L-prolinal, from step 23b above,dissolved in 5 mL of methylene chloride was added 576 mg of1-triphenylphosphoranylidene-2-propanone (Aldrich, 1.81 mmol). Thereaction was stirred at room temperature for 45 min, then heated atreflux for 1.3 hr. The solution was cooled, and a precipitate formed.The mixture was extracted with methylene chloride (3×10 mL). Thecombined organics were washed with brine and dried over MgSO₄. Theresidue was chromatographed on silica gel, eluting with 25-35% ether inhexane. The title compound was isolated by removal of solvent (279 mg).Anal. Calcd for C₁₆ H₁₉ NO₃ : C, 70.31; H, 7.01; N, 5.12; Found: C,70.20; H, 7.02; N, 5.10.

23d. 1-(1-CBZ-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1-buten-3-one oxime

A 250 mg (0.91 mmol) sample of the product from step 23c above wasdissolved in 3 mL of pyridine, and 80 mg of hydroxylamine hydrochloridewas added. The reaction was stirred for 2 hr, an additional 200 mg ofhydroxylamine HCl was added, and the reaction stirred for another hour.The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue was partitionedbetween ether and water. The ether layer was washed with Water, treatedwith solid CuSO₄, washed with brine, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated.The residue was chromatographed on silica gel, eluting with 30% ethylacetate in hexane, and 256 mg of the title compound was obtained afterremoval of solvent.

23e. 3-Methyl-5-(1-CBZ-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

A 169 mg sample (0.59 mmol.) of the product from step 23d above, 344 mg(2.07 mmol) of KI, 156 mg ((0.61 mmol) of I₂, and 198 mg (2.36 mmol) ofNaHCO₃ were dissolved in 3 mL of water and 3 mL of THF. The mixture washeated at reflux for 6 hr, then cooled to room temperature. The mixturewas diluted With 20 mL of 1.7M NaHSO₃ solution, then extracted withether. The combined extracts were washed with brine and dried overMgSO₄, then concentrated to give 143 mg of crude product. Chromatographyon silica gel, eluting with 20% ethyl acetate in hexane afforded 102 mgof the title compound after removal of the solvent.

23f. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

The Cbz-protected compound of step 23d is reacted with LAH in THF at 0°C. as described in Example 24 below, and the title compound is isolatedin pure form by extraction with ethyl acetate and distillation underhigh vacuum.

EXAMPLE 24 Alternate Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole by the Procedure ofExample 23

24a. N-Cbz-L-proline

L-Proline (10 g, 86.6 mmol) was dissolved in 66 mL of 2N NaOH and cooledto 0° C. To this solution were slowly and simultaneously added 34.35 mLof a solution of phenyl chloroformate in toluene (104.2 mmol) and 33 mLof 4N NaOH, over a period of 1 hr, while maintaining the reactiontemperature at 0° C. and the pH above 7. After all reactants were added,the reaction was stirred for 6 hr at room temperature. The solution wasthen extracted with ether. The remaining aqueous layer was neutralizedto pH 6-7 with 1N HCl, then extracted with ethyl acetate. The extractwas dried over Na₂ SO₄ and concentrated to afford 21.19 g of the titleproduct (98% yield). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 9.55 (d, 1H), 7.3.(s, 5H), 5.25(d, 2H), 4.35 (t, 1H), 4,20 (t, 1H), 1.8-2.2 (m, 4H).

24b. N-Cbz-L-prolinol

A 21.56 g (86.55 mmol) sample of the compound from step 24a above wasdissolved in 200 mL of THF, and the solution was cooled to 0° C. BH₃-dimethyl sulfide (86.5 mL, 2N) was added dropwise under a nitrogenatmosphere. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 16 hr, thencooled to 0° C. and quenched by careful addition of 10% acetic acid inmethanol. The mixture was reduced in volume on a rotary evaporator, andthe concentrate was dissolved in ethyl acetate, which was washedsuccessively with 1N HCl, water and sodium bicarbonate solution, Theorganic extract was dried over Na₂ SO₄ and concentrated to afford thetitle product, 19,94 g (98% yield).

24c. Alternate preparation of N-Cbz-L-prolinol

To a stirred suspension of sodium borohydride (7.59 g, 200 mmol) in 100mL of THF cooled to 0° C. was added a solution of 20 g (80.28 mmol) ofN-Cbz-L-proline, from step 24a above, in 50 mL of ether. To thissolution was added dropwise a solution of 5 mL of H₂ SO₄ in 20 mL ofether, with stirring and while maintaining the temperature below 20° C.The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 16hr. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 100 mL of methanoldropwise. The solvents were removed, 30 mL of 4N NaOH was added, and themixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic extract was driedover Na₂ SO₄ and concentrated to afford the title product; 16.61 g (88%yield).

24d. N-Cbz-L-prolinal

To a stirred solution of N-Cbz-L-prolinol (5 g; 21.26 mmol, from steps24b or 24c above) in 20 mL of anhydrous DMSO were added 8.89 mL (63.79mmol) of triethylamine and 10.75 g (63.79 mmol) of SO₃ -pyridine complexin 35 mL of DMSO. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperaturefor 10 min; then poured into 200 mL of ice water. The mixture wasextracted with ether, the extract was dried over Na₂ SO₄ andconcentrated to afford the title product, 3.058 g (70% yield).

24e. 1-(N-Cbz-2-pyrrolidinyl)-1-buten-3-one

To a stirred solution of N-Cbz-L-prolinal (6.3 g, 27 mmol, from step 24dabove) in 30 mL of benzene was added 9.42 g (29.6 mmol) of1-triphenylphosphoranylidene-2-propanone (Aldrich) at room temperature.The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 4 hr. The benzene wasremoved under vacuum, and the residue was dissolved in ether and cooledfor 16 hr. The phosphine oxide by product was removed by filtration, andthe solution was further purified by column chromatography on silicagel, eluting with 20% ethyl acetate in hexanes, to afford 4.4 g of thetitle product (69% yield).

24f. 1-(N-Cbz-2-pyrrolidinyl)-1-buten-3-one oxime

To a stirred solution of the compound from step 24e above (5.29 g, 19.3mmol) in 30 mL of methanol were added, in small portions, 1.34 g (19.36mmol) of hydroxylamine HCl and 1.59 g (19.36 mmol) of sodium acetate.The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr, then thesolvent was removed. The residue was suspended in 30 mL of water andextracted with ether. The extract was dried over Na₂ SO₄ andconcentrated to afford the title product as a syrup (5.34 g, 96% yield).IR 3328, 3030, 2880, 1685, 1444, 1415, 1303, 1181, 1115, 1021, 937 cm⁻¹.

24 g. 5-(1-Cbz-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-3-methylisoxazole

To a stirred solution of 6 g (20.83 mmol) of the oxime compound fromstep 24f above, in a wrapped flask to protect from light, was added 12.1g (72.92 mmol) of KI dissolved in 80 mL of water and, in small portions,7 g (83.33 mmol) of NaHCO₃ and 15.86 g (62.5 mmol) of iodine. Thereaction was heated at reflux for 16 hr, cooled and diluted withsaturated aq. NaHSO₃. The solution was extracted with ether, and theextract was washed with saturated aq. NaHSO₃, dried over Na₂ SO₄, andconcentrated to afford the title product (5.06 g, 85% yield). Thecompound was taken to the next step without further purification. IR1702, 1604, 1444, 1417, 1356, 1173, 1103, 1079 cm⁻¹.

24h. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

To a stirred solution of the Cbz-protected compound for step 24 g (5.3g, 18.53 mmol) in 30 mL of THF cooled 0° C. was added 1.463 g (37.06mmol) of lithium aluminum hydride in small portions, and the mixture wasstirred for 15 min. The reaction was quenched by adding aq. saturatedNa₂ SO₄. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the solventwas concentrated. The crude residue was dissolved in dilute HCl (1N, 30mL) and washed with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was neutralizedwith sodium bicarbonate solution, then extracted with ethyl acetate. Theorganic extract was dried over Na₂ SO₄ and concentrated under vacuum.the residue was purified by distillation under high vacuum to afford1.51 g (43.7% yield). MS: 167 (M+H)⁺, 184 (M+NH₄)⁺. The e.e., analyticaldata, and NMR spectra agree with that of the product from Example 1above. [α]_(D) =-106.19 (c=0.97, methanol).

EXAMPLE 25 Preparation of3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole viaN-(1-methylethylidine)isopropanamine

25a. N-(1-methylethylidine)isopropanamine

Acetone ((116 g, 2.0 mol) and isopropylamine (118 g, 2.0 mol) werecombined in a 500 mL round-bottom flask. The solution was stirredmagnetically as concentrated HCl (1.0 g) was added dropwise. Stirringwas continued under a relux condenser with a drying tube during a amildly exothermic reaction period. After 20 hr, solid NaOH (40 g, 1 mol)was added, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The solids wereremoved by filtration, and the filtrate was separated. The organic layerwas distilled to remove isopropylamine and acetone and obtain the imineas a colorless liquid (98.0 g, 49% yield) b.p. 88°-90° C. ¹ H NMR(CDCl₃); δ: 1.11 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 6H), 1.83 (s, 3H), 3.59 (hept, J=6.3 Hz,1H).

25b.2-(1-methylethylidine)isopropanamin0-1-oxo-2-butenyl)-1-methylpyrrolidine

A solution of diisopropylamine (5.01 g, 49.6 mmmol) andN-(1-methylethylidine)isopropanamine (5.52 g, 55.7 mmol) in dry THF (60mL) was prepared. The solution was stirred under nitrogen at -5°≠3° C.(ice-methanol bath) as n-butyllithiu/hexane (60 mL, 1.70M, 102 mmol) wasadded over a 20. min period. The solution was stirred for 1 hr at -5° C.A solution of N-methylproline methyl ester (7.16 g, 50.0 mmol) in 10 mLof THF was added over a 20 min period, while maintaining the temperaturebelow 5° C. The solution was stirred at 0° C. for 90 min, then thereaction was quenched by the rapid addition of said aq. NH₄ Cl (40 g).The mixture was warmed to room temperature, and the layers wereseparated. The aqueos phase was extracted with ethyl acetate, theorganic layers were combined, and the solution was dried over Na₂ SO₄,filtered and concentrated under vacuum to give 10.5 g of an oil, whichwas taken directly to the next step. A pure sample for analysis wasobtained upon distillation. b.p. 104°-110° C./0/40 mm Hg. ¹ H NMR(CDCl₃) δ: 1.25 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 6H), 1.68-1.92 (m, 3H), 2.01 (s, 3H), 2.01(m, 1H), 2.21 (m, 1H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.63 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 3.12 (m,1H), 3.53 (d hept, J=2.4, 7.9 Hz, 1H), 5.21 (s, 1H), 11.02 (br, 1H).

25c. 4.5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)isoxazol-5-ol

The compound from step 25b above, 10.5 g) was dissolved in 20 mL ofwater and 20 mL of 25% (w/v) aqueous H₂ SO₄. The solution was stirred atroom temperature as 50% aqueous hydroxylamine (7.8 g, 118 mmol) wasadded. The pH was adjusted by addition of 25% H₂ SO₄ to pH 5-6. Thesolution was stirred for 3 hr, then taken directly to the next step. Foranalyical purposes a sample was obtained by extracting an aliquot madebasic by addition of 50% NaOH, extraction with ethyl acetate, andconcentration under vacuum. 1H NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 1.57-1.85 (m, 3H), 2.02(t, J=l Hz, 3H), 2.05 (m, 1H), 2.47 (m, 1H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 2.75 (dd,J=2.4, 7.9 Hz, 1H), 5.21 (s, 1H), 11.02 (br, 1H).

25d. 3-Methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole

To the solution of the product from step 25c above was added 12 mL ofconc H₂ SO₄, and the mixture was warmed to 70° C. and stirred for 2 hr.The solution was cooled in an ice-water bath, and adjusted to pH 12 byslow addition of 50% aqueous NaOH (40 g). The mixture was extractedtwice with ethyl acetate, and the combined extracts Were dried over Na₂SO₄. The solid were removed by filtration, and the filtrate wasdistilled, first at atmospheric pressure to remove the solvent and,finally, under vacuum to provide the title compound as a nearlycolorless liquid (4.74 g, 57%). b.p. 115°-117° C./20 mm Hg. ¹ H NMR(CDCl₃) δ: 1.8-2.1 (m, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.21 (m, 1H), 2.29 (s, 3H),2.36 (m, 1H), 3.17 (m, 1H), 3.53 (t, J=8 Hz, 1H), 6.01 (s, 1H).

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for preparing in high yield theenantiomerically-pure 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃-alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole of the formula ##STR28## wherein Alk isC₁ -C₃ -alkyl, comprising: (a) reacting a starting material,(S)-pyroglutamic acid, having the formula ##STR29## with an esterifyingreagent at from -10° C. to 80° C. for from 3-to-48 hours, to prepare the(S)-pyroglutamic acid ester having the formula, ##STR30## wherein R¹ ismethyl or ethyl; (b) reacting the (S)-pyroglutamic acid ester with anexcess of a salt of the dianion of acetone oxime in a suitable solvent,at a temperature of from -30° C. to ambient temperature, with vigorousmixing of the reagents, to form the intermediate product,1-(1-methyl-5-oxo-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)-1,3-butanedione-3-oxime, which isnot isolated, but which is dehydrated and cyclized by reaction with astrong acid at ambient-to-reflux temperature for from 0.5-to-3 hours, toproduce the novel 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone compoundhaving the formula ##STR31## (c) reducing the5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinone with a reducing agent knownto reduce lactams to cyclic amines, particularly an agent selected fromthe group consisting of lithium aluminum hydride, NaBH₄ /BF₃, NaBH₄ /CH₃SO₃ H, NaBH₄ /camphorsulfonic acid, borane/dimethyl sulfide andborane/THF, to give the 3-methyl-5-(2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole compoundhaving the formula ##STR32## then (d) N-alkylating the3-methyl-5-(2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole by treatment with anN-alkylating agent, such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or propanal, forexample, in the presence of a reducing agent and under reactionconditions capable of reducing an iminium compound, and isolating thedesired 3-methyl-5-(1-(C₁ -C₃ -alkyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole in highchiral purity.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein Alk ismethyl and wherein in step (a), the esterifying reagent is methanol inthe presence of a strong acid; in step (c), the intermediate product isnot isolated; and in step (d), the N-alkylating agent is formaldehyde inthe presence of formic acid at ambient or an elevated temperature. 3.The process according to claim 1, wherein R¹ is methyl and wherein instep (a), the esterifying reagent is methanol and sulfuric acid; in step(b) the (S)-pyroglutamic acid ester compound is reacted with 2.0equivalents of the lithium salt of the dianion of acetone oxime in asolution of THF:hexane, wherein the ratio of THF:hexane is 3:2, and thedehydrating and cyclizing reagent is concentrated sulfuric acid; and instep (c) reducing the 5(S)-(3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl)-2-pyrrolidinonecompound with borane in THF.